New York Fashion Week 2021

Fashion Week is one of the most anticipated annual events in the fashion world. It gives designers the opportunity to showcase their latest and greatest creations while providing a beautiful social climate for the models and attendees. The extravagant event originated in New York in 1943, created by Eleanor Lambert who was the press director of the New York Dress Institute, and who unfortunately passed away in 2003. The reason for its creation shocked me: during WWII when the Nazis occupied Paris, all allied countries were unable to communicate with the fashion capital of the world. Seeing that fashion trends had been progressing in America, Lambert decided to host a press week, during which New York designers, press, and photographers gathered to focus on new designs. This rag-tag get together developed into what we now know as New York Fashion Week. This event has become an ode to designers all around the globe, and this year’s clothing did not disappoint.

Starting off strong, we have Kendall Jenner wearing Michael Kors. Her full black two piece set is sheek and sophisticated, much like the rest of Kors’s work in this line. He seemed to draw inspiration from late 1900s fashion, showcasing long swing skirts and blazers and even a halter top complete with a sweetheart neckline. I absolutely love Kendall’s look- it reminds me of a café lunch break in Paris. Additionally, her bouquet of red roses really drew attention to this look. I truly appreciate when designers add those little details that make the pieces pop.

Among others, Gigi Hadid also stood out walking the Kors show. She was dressed in a long black sequined jumpsuit with her hair fully slicked back. I love this look because it expresses both modesty and excitement- and she looks amazing, of course. Gigi seemed to have a glittery theme that night, because in the Tom Ford show, she was nearly too sparkly to look at. She was dressed in a long-sleeved, green, and sequined tie-front top with a pair of iridescent gold pants to match. Ford expressed contrast and a pop of color with her light blue heels, and completed the look with diamond jewelry. This look amazed me because of the simple fact that I could just never make those colors work. True magic.

One designer that really caught my attention was Prabal Gurung. His pieces are what I see to be as the utmost statement pieces. With an array of colors, cuts, materials, and fits, he is able to draw attention to his brand easily. I can’t pick a favorite piece! Most of the work from this collection has an oversized component to it, which always stands out on its own, while also highlighting other fitted aspects of the outfit design. Gurung also uses bright or contrasting colors in many of his outfits, which I believe brings a balance to the obvious preference of neutral colors that the fashion world seems to be drawn to at the moment. What I admire most about this collection is definitely the color choices he made- he wouldn’t have caught my attention otherwise!

Though I’ve made it seem like I have a preference for bright, in-your-face color choices, that is not the case. Personally, I’m a neutrals girl, which is why this next brand caught my eye. Y/Project, founded by Glenn Martens, quite often sticks to their neutral colors, but a pop of color is appreciated from time to time. This brand has been described as “wearable controlled chaos,” a statement that I 100% agree with, and 100% love. I really enjoy seeing how designers integrate common emotions or anything ordinary into fashion. I also believe that it helps people to connect with their work and better understand the designer’s intentions, while appreciating the art that came from their inspiration. The Y/Project features oversized clothing, similar to Prabal Gurung, and seems to focus on unique textures and combinations of cuts. This is where the designers dive into their artistic roots- playing with different aspects of design is vital to creating new fashion, which is exactly what was displayed at NYFW 2021.